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Letters Patent No. 77,413, dated April 28, 1868.

IMPROVED WASHING-MACHINE.

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Y TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that we, O'JIS W. STANFORD and SELDEN S. SCOVILLE, bot-hef Lebanon, Warren county, Ohio, have invented a new and useful Washing-Apparatus; and we hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had tc the accompanying drawings, making part of this speciiication.

The tirst part of our invention relates to devices for rubbing the clothes, which consist in part of two battens, that are operated in such a manner as to alternately press and then rub the garments.

The second part of our invention consists in a frame supported on springs so as to yield in every direction, and provided with a series of rollers, which, in conjunction Ywith the battons, serve to wash the garments in the most thorough and expeditious' manner, and without any liability ot' injuring the most delicate fabrics.

The third part of our invention consists in dividing the tub ot' 'thc washing-apparatus into a number ofA compartments or chambers, in which the washing, rinsing, and starehing operations may be consecutivelyl performed, and combining therewith battens capable ot' being operated in either ot' these chambers, by being connected to a shif'table lid, which may be slid along and secured at any desired part of the tub, as may be found mostconvenient.

The fourth part of our invention consists in a movable holder for the support of a wringcr, the holder being contrived so that the wringcr can be operated above either of the compartments of the tub.

The remaining portions of our invention relate to subordinate devices, which will be explained in the sequel. In the accompanying drawings# l Figure 1 is a perspective view of a Washing-apparatus embodying our improvements, the shiftable lid being represented as somewhat elevated.

Figures 2 ands are, respectively, longitudinal and transverse sections ofthe same; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a portion` ot" the rear side of the tub, showing the devices by which the shiftable lid is permitted to be moved along the tub, and maintained at any desired position. l

The tub of our washing-apparatus consists of a long rectangular box, A, supported upon legs a a', and it is provided with vertical partitions, B BB, which divide said tub into four chambers or compartments, O, D, E, and F, the first two being used for the washing operations proper, and the last two, respcctively,'for thc rinsing and starching of the clothes. Y

The two washing-chambers, C and D, are provided with frames, g t, in whichis journalled a series of rollers, Gr H, and said frames are adapted to yield in'evcry direction by being supported upon springs l, which rest upon the bottom of the tub, so as to form a yielding bed ot' rollers.

A number of these rollers may be somewhat diminished in diameternear their mid-length, as shown at G H', so as to permit of the suds passing more freely through the bod at those parts. l

The battons consist of frames J J', which are composed ot' wooden slats, and these battens are rigidly attached tov their stems, jj, Whose upper ends arc pivoted to the arms c 7c ot'ra rock-shaft, K.

The lower ends of the stems jj are united by a link, L, which prevents the battons coming in contact With one another at any portion 'of their stroke, and is also coeiective for the production of a rubbing-motion, as will hereafter appear. I

The roch-shaft K is journalled in standards M M, which rise vertically from'the shiftable lid N, and said rock-shaft is provided with a socket, o, for the reception of a lever or handle, O, by which the shaft and the accompanying battons are operated.

lhe shiftable lid or cover N has slots, n 11.', vWit-hin which the stemsjj vibrate, and. this lid is hinged at pp toa carriage, P, which is adapted to slide upon a guide-bar, Q, the latter being secured to the rear side of the tub. I

This provision of the hinged'lid N, carriage P, and guide-bar Q, permits ofthe battons being employed in either ofthe chambers C, D, or E, as may be desired,

Hinged to the lid N is a weighted catch, R, having a rearwardly-projecting stud, r, which, entering either of the apertures s in the tub A, prevents accidental elevation of the lid.

Secured to the under side of the lid N are battens S, which serve to stiien the lid, and also to prevent thc escape of steam and water when the tub is quite full.

Attached to the front side of the tub is another guide-bar, T, which supports a movable wringer-holder, U, `the latter being secured at any position upon said guide-bar by means of the set-screwA u.

The carriage P, to which the lid is hinged, is provided with a spring-bar, V, which being permitted to engage with notches, v, at such points as to permit of the battens being used in either ofthe chambers C, D, or E, as may be necessary. v

W is a waste-pipe, and communication is made between said pipe and .thcdiii'erent chambers by means of cocks c d ef, by. which arrangcment'either ot' the chambers can be emptied of the sudswithout disturbing the contents of the neighboring compartments. A l

X is a furnace for heating the water in the washing-chambers.

Theopcration oi' our washing-machineis as follows: The washing-chambers being filled with a suiiicicnt quantity of hot water or suds, andthe clothes laid upon the bed of rollers, the lid is closed and secured by engaging the stud 9' of the weighted catch in Vth-e aperture s.

The operator then grasps the handle O, and by moving it alternately backward and forward, the battons are made to operate upon the clothes contained in the tub. l l l The action of thebattensv will be understood by referring to fig. 3, and it will be seen that the one, J, which is supposed to he descending, irst squeezes the clothes between it and a portion of'the rollers, and as the frame which carries these rollers is supported on springs, it yields suiiicicntly to prevent the clothes being injured hy too great a compression. i

One end of tle frame being thus depressed, the suds below it are forced up through the rollers at the other end, carrying the clothes along with them, and forcing the water through the interstices ofthe fabric.-

As some of the rollers are-decreased in diameter near their mid-length, the suds are allowed to pass freely through the bed at those parts;

The method in which the rock-shaft, stems, and link are arranged, causes the battons to have a sliding vmotion above the rollers, when near the end of the stroke, by which means the clothes are not only compressed,

but they arcalso rubbed and washed in the most thorough manner. .As each of the lbattons is elevated or depressed, -it operates on the clothes in the manner described', and with such-effect that the clothes are washed in a 'few minutes.

The clothes having been washed, are then placed in the .rinsing-chamber E, and the sliding lid N, with its accompanying battens, J J', can be moved along so as to assist in the rinsing operation, and, if preferred, said chamber can bc provided with a bed of rollers similar to the ones in G H.

By simply hinging the lid N to the box A, and having only one chamber instead of four, a very effective washing-machine will be produced, of snilicient capacity for all the requirements of a smallvfamily.

Another, although a more expensive formvof our apparatus, may have a lid and battons for each of' thc several compartments. In an inferior modification of our invention, the yielding bed may consist ot' a simple slab ofwood or zinc, corrugated or otherwise. Y

We claim herein as lnew, and of our invention- 1. A washing-machine, consisting of the yieldingbed or frame g I, rollers G, battens J J, stemsjj', rockshaft K k 7c', andA link L, the whole being combined and operating substantially as herein described and set forth.

2. We claim the devices J J7'j, K c 7c', a'ndL, when attached to the sliding lid N, and adapted to be operated in either of thechambcrs C', D, or E, as explained.

3. We also claim the devices P Q V "v, for enabling theshifti-ng of the lid N, and for securing' it at any desired position, for the purpose described.

4. In combination with the sliding lid N, and its described accessories, J J,j 7", K 7c 7c', and L, lwe also claim the chambers C, D, E, and F, for the object explained. i

5. In a washing-machine constructed substantially as above set forth, we claim the shiftable wringer-rest T Ufa, as described and set forth.

In testimony of which invention, we hereunto setour hands.

orls W. STANFORD, sELDEN s. scovILLn.

Witnesses:

GEO. I-I. KNIGnT, Gro. B. Johnson. 

